Kierkegaard K Takes Over Top Spot in Ken Warkentin's Road to the Hambletonian Week 5
The 2023 Hambletonian will take place Saturday, August 5
Week Five – Issued Wednesday, June 28
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, NJ – After dominating his Yonkers Trot elimination, Kierkegaard K moves into the top spot in week 5 of Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian.
#1 Kierkegaard K
Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc.
NYSS Final runner up last year, three-for-three this season, wire-to-wire in a NYSS division in 1:53, equaled the Vernon Downs all-age track record of 1:50.3 in an Empire Breeders Classic division, dominated a Yonkers Trot elimination in 1:54.3, post three in Final
#2 Special Way
Ake Svanstedt, Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld
Dan Patch Award winner, richest 2YO female trotter of 2022 with $697,475, made it three-for-three this season & 10 in a row with a career best 1:51.4 in the NJSS Final, qualifies @ Big M on July 1
#3 Air Power
Andrew McCarthy, Marcus Melander, Amg Stable Inc., Rick Wahlstedt, Kenneth Kjellgren, Heights Stable
Won his 3YO debut in 1:52.1, came right back to upset Ari Ferrari J in a 1:51 NJSS division, then captured the NJSS Final in a career best 1:50.4, post seven in first Reynolds division
#4 Volume Eight
Andrew McCarthy, Noel Daley, Sjoblom Racing, Joe Sbrocco, LA Express & JAF Racing, Mario Mazza
Dan Patch Award winner, second [1:56.2) in June 14 qualifier @ Magical Acres, third (1:54.4) in a June 24 qualifier 19 @ Big M, makes 3YO debut from post six in first Reynolds division
#5 Bond
Ake Svanstedt, Little E, L. Berg Inc.
Filly finished 2022 with six straight wins, including the PASS Championship, Kindergarten Classic & Goldsmith Maid, wire-to-wire in PA Allstars @ Pocono in 1:52.3, lowered her mark to 1:51.4 in PASS @ Pocono, post eight in Reynolds division @ Big M
#6 Oh Well
Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander, S R F Stable
Won 2022 NJSS Final in 1:53.1, Mohawk Million & NJ Classic A Final, second (1:52.2) in 3YO debut, just missed in 1:52, second again in the NJSS Final, post two in second Reynolds division
#7 Up Your Deo
Ake Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Farms, Van Camp Trotting Corp.
Broke his maiden in his 3YO debut from post 11 in 1:52 in the slop, upsetting Oh Well, third going first over in the NJSS Final, recovered from an early miscue to win a Yonkers Trot elimination in a track record of 1:53.1, post two in Yonkers Trot Final
#8 Kilmister
Brian Sears, Marcus Melander, Courant, Inc.
2022 Peter Haughton Memorial winner, third placed second (1:53.2) to Kierkegaard K in NYSS season debut, third (1:53.3) in a NYSS division @ Tioga Downs, took a mark of 1:52.4 in an Empire Breeders Classic 1st division, not in to go
#9 Southwind Coors
Scott Zeron, Matthew Bax, Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, David Richard Hudson, Craig Wilson
Just one for 11 as a 2YO, yet has matured into a Goodtimes winner in 1:52, second (1:52.1) by a neck to Gaines Hanover in his elimination, then nosed out that rival in the final, not in to go
#10 Gaines Hanover
Louis Roy, Richard Moreau, Gestion J Y Blais, Inc.
O’Brien Award & Breeders Crown winner, held on to take a Goodtimes elimination in 1:52.1, second (1:52) by a nose in the Goodtimes Final third time Lasix, not in to go
road to the hambletonian playlist
KEY PREP RACES
Hambletonian Eligibles in Caps
| Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Driver | Trainer | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Dexter Cup | Fhld | Khaosan Road | Scott Zeron | Ake Svanstedt | ESPRESSO | Candy Bomber | 1:57.4 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | WALNER PAYTON | Dexter Dunn | Chris Ryder | BLONDE BOMBSHELL | SECRET VOLO | 1:51.4 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | AIR POWER | Tim Tetrick | Marcus Melander | Ari Ferrari J | Dire Straits | 1:51 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | MAMBACITA | CHECK HER OUT | 1:53.1 |
| May 13 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | TACTICAL APPROACH | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | OH WELL | CELEBRITY BAMBINO | 1:52.1 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | SECRET VOLO | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | MAMBACITA | Tactical Mounds | 1:53.2 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | WALNER PAYTON | BLONDE BOMBSHELL | 1:53.4 |
| May 20 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | UP YOUR DEO | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | OH WELL | TACTICAL APPROACH | 1:52 |
| May 29 | NYSS 1st Leg | V | Cecil Hanover | Mark MacDonald | Ake Svanstedt | THE GRUFFALO | CROWN | 1:52.3 |
| May 29 | NYSS 1st Leg | V | KIERKEGAARD K | Mark MacDonald | Ake Svanstedt | KILMISTER | TILLIO’S ACTION | 1:53 |
| June 2 | NJSS Final | M | AIR POWER | Andrew McCarthy | Marcus Melander | OH WELL | UP YOUR DEO | 1:50.4 |
| June 2 | NJSS Final | M | SPECIAL WAY | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | SECRET VOLO | WALNER PAYTON | 1:51.4 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | FATHER STOSH | Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. | Jill Roland | CHAMBA | Commander Frank | 1:53.4 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | Spitfire Overseas | Scott Zeron | Megan Scran | HERODOTUS | Khaosan Road | 1:53.2 |
| June 3 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | Saint Louie | Dave Palone | Ake Svanstedt | ONCE IN A LIFETIME | Sintra De Vie | 1:54 |
| June 9 | NYSS 2nd Leg | TD | CROWN | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | Chapercraz | You Got It | 1:52.4 |
| June 9 | Goodtimes Elims | Moh | GAINES HANOVER | Louis Phillip Roy | Richard Moreau | SOUTHWND COORS | TUSCAN PRINCE | 1:52.1 |
| June 9 | Goodtimes Elims | Moh | Warrawee Yang | Scott Young | Mark Etsell | Hasty Bid | What An Angel | 1:53.3 |
| June 11 | PASS 2nd Leg | PcD | ONCE IN A LIFETIME | Tim Tetrick | Jim Campbell | FRENCH WINE | Saint Louie | 1:53.1 |
| June 11 | PASS 2nd Leg | PcD | Khaosan Road | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Kenobi | Spitfire Overseas | 1:52.3 |
| June 16 | EBC | V | KILMISTER | Brian Sears | Marcus Melander | Cecil Hanover | Sevecheetah | 1:52.4 |
| June 16 | EBC | V | KIERKEGAARD K | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | TILLIO’S ACTION | Chapercraz | 1:50.3 |
| June 17 | Currier & Ives | Mea | Commander Frank | Mike Wilder | Norm Parker | Tailgate Buzz | Fire N Lightning | 1:53.4 |
| June 17 | Currier & Ives | Mea | HERODUTUS | Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. | Ron Burke | Express Man | Rumble Strips | 1:55 |
| June 17 | Goodtimes Final | Moh | SOUTHWND COORS | Scott Zeron | Matthew Bax | GAINES HANOVER | TUSCAN PRINCE | 1:52 |
| June 18 | PASS 2nd Leg | PcD | BOND | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | RAILEE SOMETHING | BELLA MACCHIATO | 1:51.3 |
| June 23 | Yonkers Trot Elims | Y | UP YOUR DEO | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | CHAPERCRAZ | CROWN | 1:53.1 |
| June 23 | Yonkers Trot Elims | Y | KIERKEGAARD K | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | TILLIO’S ACTION | Ari Ferrari J | 1:54.3 |
| June 30 | Yonkers Trot | Y | ||||||
| July 1 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 1 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 2 | PASS | Phl | ||||||
| July 2 | PASS | Phl |
